On August 18, 2025, Eureka will be releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Martial Law: Lo Wei’s Wuxia World, a 3-film collection that will include 1960’s The Black Butterfly, 1968’s Death Valley and 1971’s Vengeance of a Snow Girl.

A prolific writer and director, Lo Wei found fame in the 1970s following the enormous international success of The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, his collaborations with the inimitable Bruce Lee. In the years before he kickstarted a kung fu revolution, though, he had been working on an accomplished series of wuxia pian for Shaw Brothers. Presented here are three standout films drawn from Lo Wei’s wuxia world: The Black Butterfly, Death Valley and Vengeance of a Snow Girl.

In The Black Butterfly, a good-hearted thief acts as the Robin Hood of the martial world, robbing from the rich to give to the poor – and they begin by stealing a fortune in gold from a group of five ruthless bandits holed up at Five Devils Rock. Then, in Death Valley, the Lord of Chao Manor (Lo Wei) is murdered by his niece (Angela Yu Chien), leading to a bitter fight to claim his land and a clash between a hired swordsman (Chen Hung-lieh) and the Lord’s heir apparent (Yueh Hua). Finally, in Vengeance of a Snow Girl, a young woman (Li Ching) takes revenge for her murdered parents, who were killed in a dispute over the legendary Tsui Feng sword – leading to a final showdown on frozen ground.

Lo Wei’s The Black Butterfly, Death Valley and Vengeance of a Snow Girl are three of the finest wuxia films produced in the years before Bruce Lee’s meteoric rise to fame would cause a tectonic shift in the Hong Kong film industry, as the era of kung fu loomed on the horizon. Eureka Classics is proud to present all three films on Blu-ray for the first time in the UK.

Features:

• Limited Edition [2000 copies]
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
• Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on all three films in this set by Hong Kong cinema expert Camille Zaurin
• 1080p HD presentations of all three films on Blu-ray
• Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
• New audio commentaries on all three features by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• Hong Kong Hustle – new interview with Hong Kong cinema scholar Wayne Wong on the life and work of Lo Wei

This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch Eureka’s Trailer for the collection below:

The post Eureka declares ‘Martial Law’! Lo Wei’s ‘Black Butterfly’, ‘Death Valley’ and ‘Vengeance of a Snow Girl’ arriving soon first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Invincible Swordsman” Theatrical Poster

Director: Luo Yi Wei
Cast: Kitty Zhang Yuqi, Tim Huang Xiyan, Xuan Lu, Terence Yin, Sammo Hung, Yun Qianqian
Running Time: 118 min.

By Paul Bramhall

When Brigitte Lin was cast as the character Invincible Asia in 1992’s Swordsman 2, few could have predicted the role would become so iconic, leading Lin to spend the last 3 years of her acting career as a mainstay of the new wave wuxia genre. In just a few short years she appeared in more than 10 new wave wuxia’s, and her role in each is probably reason enough why, even with the technological advancements in the 30 years since, few directors have been bold (or dumb, depending on your perspective) enough to try and remake any of them. The last to try was Jacob Cheung, who in 2014 helmed The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom, a re-make of Ronny Yu’s 1993 classic The Bride with White Hair, which was mostly met with negative reviews.

Now in 2025, for his sophomore feature director Luo Yi Wei decided to take a crack at remaking the very movie that made Lin such an iconic presence in the new wave wuxia genre, with Invincible Swordsman tackling the same story as Swordsman 2. Debuting in 2022 with Swords Drawn, Yi Wei admittedly has a convenient out of any potential comparisons, thanks to the fact the source material is one of wuxia writer Jin Yong’s novels, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. While it’s almost impossible to count the number of time Yong’s The Condor Heroes has been adapted for the screen, comparatively The Smiling, Proud Wanderer is one of his lesser adapted stories. Apart from the Tsui Hark produced trilogy of the early 1990’s, there’s been a couple of TV adaptations in the 2000’s and that’s it, so the source materials relative scarcity of appearing onscreen make the comparisons to its last big screen adaptation all the more inevitable.

While The White Haired Witch of Lunar Kingdom saw Fan Bingbing step into the role that Brigitte Lin originally played, in Invincible Swordsman the honours go to Kitty Zhang (The Mermaid, Legend of the Demon Cat) who’s tasked with stepping into the shoes (or should that be billowing silk?) of Invincible Asia. In the role of Lunghu Chong (played by Jet Li in Swordsman 2) is Tim Huang (Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms, Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force), whose biggest problem is his friendship with Xuan Lu (Midnight Hair, Battle: The Insidious). She plays the daughter of a power-hungry clan leader played by Hong Kong mainstay Terence Yin (New Police Story, Special ID), so naturally Huang’s own clan doesn’t approve of their budding relationship, ultimately leading to him bring expelled.

Lucky for him, he’s taken under the wing of a martial arts master who’s been living in seclusion played by Sammo Hung (God of War, The Bodyguard), who trains him up on such awesomely named techniques like the Sword Nourishing stance. While Huang lives in isolation on the (equally awesomely named) Cliff of Contemplation, Zhang defeats Yin and becomes the leader of the Sun Moon Cult, imprisoning him by blocking his vital points, and vowing to take over the martial arts world. When Huang gets wind that his former clan is also in danger from her plans for world dominance, he decides to return to the world of jiang hu, using his new skills to go into battle with members of the cult. It’s in the midst of a fight that he mistakenly believes he saves Zhang, not realising who she is, beginning a doomed love story as the truth is bound to eventually reveal itself.

It goes without saying that Invincible Swordsman is a much more straightforward affair than its last iteration on the big screen. The whole element of how Invincible Asia is actually a man, who after making himself a eunuch has transitioned into a woman, is here not given a mention (despite being more culturally relevant today than it was in the early 90’s!). The only slight reference it gets is in a throwaway scene where Zhang admires the female servants she’s surrounded by, implying a feeling of physical attraction, although in a stark contradiction she then falls for Huang minutes later. There’s also understandably a lack of the political subtext that Tsui Hark is known for, but considering China’s current cinematic climate that’s to be expected. Instead we’re left with a relatively pedestrian re-telling of the source material, one that gets by on the goodwill of seeing the likes of Sammo Hung back in a wuxia production again.

More an extended special appearance than a supporting role, Hung’s main duty is to pass on his martial arts skills to Huang in a CGI rendered clifftop setting, and it’s always a pleasure to see him onscreen. The last time he was in a wuxia you have to go back to 2010’s 14 Blades, but his role here as a white bearded martial arts master is more likely to recall his role in Wong Jing’s 1993 slice of wuxia madness Kung Fu Cult Master (speaking of which, it’s Wong Jing who’s on script and producer duty for Invincible Swordsman). Hung’s always been able to evoke a sense of authority when his performances call for it, something we saw last in the previous year’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, and it’s a joy to see the elder statesman of kung-fu cinema supplant that same authority from a contemporary setting into a wuxia one.

Others fare less well. As the main character Huang is decidedly one note, appearing in every scene like he’s just been told to “smoulder for the camera”, and little else. Sure any wuxia flick requires a degree of posing in a variety of heroic martial arts stances, but when the entire performance feels like posing, it becomes a problem. Similarly Zhang struggles to make the role of Invincible Asia her own, too often feeling like she watched Swordsman 2 on repeat for a few weeks, then attempted to emulate Brigitte Lin’s performance as best she can. Inevitably, the scenes they share together which are intended to carry the most dramatic weight land with a resounding thud, devoid of any chemistry.

Regardless of performance quality though, the one aspect of Invincible Swordsman that nobody can escape from is a painfully pretentious script. Almost as if ChatGPT had been asked to create a script consisting entirely of fortune cookie pondering, lines like “Gain and loss are but two sides of the same coin” and “How long is an inch of justice? How long is an inch of longing?” are commonplace. It kind of feels like there was an unspoken rule that if a character was going to speak, they had to come out with something deeply profound, but the result is one that leads to plenty of eyerolling fairly early on. If anything, it came as a relief when there was a scene involving one of the clans throwing a celebration, and the song they decided to belt out consisted purely of a bunch of men chanting “raa raa raa!” on repeat.

That leaves the action, which sees Wu Yue (Paradox, The Brink) stepping into an action director role for the first time since 2016’s The Adventures of Wei Bao, and he does a serviceable job. Invincible Asia’s threaded needles benefit best from the CGI enhancements, with one particular scene involving a character getting one of them straight through his eyeball, which is then used to pull him forward. The appearance of a trio of villains – named Greed, Anger, and Ignorance – also feels like a call back to the crazed wuxia’s of yesteryear, with the use of a lute and oversized butchers knives providing both variety and energy to the action beats. There’s nothing really on display that hasn’t been seen before though, and there’s a distinct feeling we’re watching the go-to action beats from the ‘Wuxia Wirework for Non-Martial Artists’ playbook, meaning there’s no standout moments to separate Invincible Swordsman from its contemporaries.

As it stands, for his sophomore feature director Luo Yi Wei shows just how far the Chinese web movie industry has come in the last 15 years, as Invincible Swordsman received a theatrical release despite being funded by the likes of iQIYI and Tencent, production companies that once exclusively made movies for streaming. Indeed the budget may be higher, the CGI locations now mixed with actual location shooting, and the runtime much longer, but is Invincible Swordsman likely to stay in the memory any longer than the average 75-minute web movie wuxia? Honestly, probably not.

Paul Bramhall’s Rating: 6/10

The post Invincible Swordsman (2025) Review first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Releases for the month of August.

If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

Read on for the full list of New and Exclusive titles:

8/1/25 | The Witch 2: The Other One

There’s an inescapable feeling while watching The Witch: Part 2. The Other One that what we have is an entertainingly schlocky B-movie, that somehow accidentally got dressed in an epic big budget productions clothes. For those that enjoyed the original, and not just for Kim Da-mi’s performance, there could well be something to enjoy here, since it essentially offers more of the same. | Read our full review.

8/1/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 24)

Looking for more action that revolves around the infamous Kowloon Walled City? Before 2024’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, there was the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls.

Chor Au-Kuen (Ruco Chan) bears the grief of the loss of his family and returns to the walled city in hopes of finding his long lost sister, only to find out that the place he grew up in has become a lawless no man’s land…

A Fist Within Four Walls also stars Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

8/8/25 | The Ghost Station

The Ghost Station is not going to be the next The Grudge. The overall lack of original images pretty much ensures that it won’t have the same impact on the genre as its forebears. However, those of us who pine for a return to the turn-of-the-century golden age of Eastern horror aren’t necessarily looking to see the wheel reinvented in real time. In fact, a well-made, fun throwback like The Ghost Station might be just what the doctor ordered. | Read our review.

8/8/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 25)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

8/15/25 | The Childe

With a welcome streak of humor, and zero compromise on his typically violent approach to storytelling, I’d be willing to say The Childe is the best work Hoon-jung has done since his sophomore feature with 2013’s The New World. The fact that it’s under 2 hours and features a scene stealing performance from Kim Seon-ho is just the icing on the cake. | Read our review.

8/15/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 26)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

8/22/25 | Bangkok Dog (Hi-YAH! Exclusive)

Taken from the perspective of Bangkok Dog being the modern equivalent of a DTV action flick, there’s enough brutal knees and flying kicks delivered to satisfy anyone looking for a throwback to Thai action cinemas glory days. At one point Sao’s superior asks him “Do you always have to go kung-fu on every mission!?” To which Sao replies with a smirk, “It works.” The same question could just as well be applied to Bangkok Dog itself, as without the kung-fu it’d be a pretty lamentable excuse for a movie, but with it, well, it works. | Read our review.

8/22/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 27)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

8/29/25 | Noryang: Deadly Sea

Filmmaker Kim Han-Min (War of the Arrows) is back at the wheel with Noryang: Deadly Sea, the third part of the saga that started with 2014’s The Admiral: Roaring Currents and 2022’s Hansan: Rising Dragon.

The seven-year Imjin War nears an end as Admiral Yi Sun-shin leads an allied fleet against the Wae army to fight his last valiant battle at Noryang Strait.

The film stars Kim Yun-Seok (The Chaser), Baek Yoon-Sik (Inside Men), Jung Jae-Young (Carter), Heo Jun-Ho (Escape from Mogadishu), Ahn Bo-Hyun (Hiya), Kim Sung-Kyu (The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil).

8/29/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 28)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

The post Witches, Dogs, Ghosts and a half Korean-Filipino boxer! Here’s what’s streaming on Hi-YAH for the month of August first appeared on cityonfire.com.

A sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 film Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood – titled The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth – is brewing with David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) directing a script written by Tarantino.

Frequent Fincher/Tarantino collaborator Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Inglorious Basterds) will reprise his role as Cliff Booth, the tough-guy Hollywood stuntman portrayed in the first movie.

For the sequel, it’s the late 70’s, and Cliff has transitioned from stuntman to “Hollywood studio fixer”. As a “fixer,” Booth would be the guy studios call when something—anything—needs to quietly disappear. Scandals, blackmail, problematic stars, even bodies. He operates in the shadows, loyal, unshakable, and totally unfazed by the dirt beneath Hollywood’s golden surface. It’s a natural evolution for a character already written as a war hero, stuntman, and possibly even a murderer (via World of Reel).

Co-starring alongside Pitt are Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown, Tenet), Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Carla Gugino (American Gangster) and Corey Fogelmanis (I Wish You All the Best).

The latest actor to join the film is JB Tadena (CW’s Kung Fu) who is presumed to take on the role of Bill Vergara, a Filipino mobster and film financier (via World of Reel).

There was some talk about Leonardo DiCaprio returning as Rick Dalton, but according to The Hot Mic, Netflix offered him $3M for one day of shooting, but DiCaprio reportedly rejected the offer.

Speaking on The Big Picture podcast, Sean Fennessey, who is a friend of Tarantino’s, had the following to say: “This probably should not be thought of as a sequel. It should be thought of as a follow-up that is connected to, but not the same as — the example that was cited to me was, think about how The Big Sleep, the Raymond Chandler adaptation starring Humphrey Bogart, is in the same world as Farewell, My Lovely, the 1975 Robert Mitchum movie, because they play the same character in that movie. But it’s different actors, different directors, and a different time in the storyline. They’re different… This will be like the further adventures of Cliff Booth, is my understanding of it. The only other important information that I’ve learned, that I think is confirmed, is that the movie takes place in 1977, which is roughly eight years after the events of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. So a different time in Cliff Booth’s life.”

The original film caused controversy with a scene that involved Cliff Booth’s (Pitt) interaction with Bruce Lee (played by Mike Moh). Shannon Lee, Bruce’s daughter, who runs the official Bruce Lee businesses and foundation, reportedly lodged a complaint with the Chinese film authorities demanding two scenes in which her late father is portrayed in a confrontation with Pitt’s stuntman character be excised, because they made the iconic Kung Fu star look arrogant. Her demands were supposedly the reason the movie was pulled from Chinese theaters one week before its release date (via LA Times).

With that said, we can only hope Mike Moh reprises his role as Bruce so the two can go for another round. After all, it’s just a movie, right?

The Continuing Adventures of Cliff Booth is currently in production.

We’ll keep you updated as we hear more. Until then, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Brad Pitt in the film (via Just Jarod), followed by the Trailer to the original:

The post The stuntman who destroyed Bruce Lee is back! First look at Brad Pitt in Fincher’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ sequel first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Prisoner of War” Theatrical Poster

This September, the Prisoner of War (aka Death March) is coming home! The film is the latest actioner from martial arts sensation Scott Adkins (John Wick 4, Ip Man 4, Triple Threat).

Directed by and co-starring Louis Mandylor (The Debt Collector, The Doorman), Prisoner of War takes place during WWII and centers on a British officer (Adkins) who is captured and forced to fight in a Japanese internment camp.

Inspired by real World War II events, British RAF Wing Commander James Wright is shot down during the Battle of Bataan and captured by the Japanese. Thrown into a prisoner-of-war camp, he is forced into the ring to fight for survival in brutal hand-to-hand combat against skilled opponents. However, the soldiers get more than they bargained for when Wright’s years of training in Hong Kong prove him to be a formidable adversary.

The film also stars Peter Shinkoda (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), Gabbi Garcia (Unbreak My Heart), Michael Copon (The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior), Donald Cerrone (Lights Out), Gary Cairns (Day Labor), Shane Kosugi (9 Deaths of the Ninja), Atsuki Kashio (Black Swindler), Kansuke Yokoi (The Locked Room) and Sol Eugenio (1521: The Quest for Love and Freedom)

Although it hasn’t been confirmed, we suspect that Masanori Mimoto (Hydra, Baby Assassins), who also stars, may play a role in the film’s action choreography. Additionally, Stephen Renney, who has worked on stunts in films such as Monkey Man and Renfield, is also contributing to the film’s action department.

Well Go USA is releasing Prisoner of War on September 19, 2025. UK audiences can expect a September 22, 2025 Blu-ray release from Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment.

Watch Well Go USA’s Trailer below:

The post Watch Scott Adkins eat Japanese for dinner in Well Go USA’s New Trailer for Louis Mandylor’s ‘Prisoner of War’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

On October 13, 2025, Eureka is releasing the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for 1985’s The Island. Perhaps the most accomplished genre picture directed by British-Chinese filmmaker Po-Chih Leong (Hong Kong 1941), The Island is Hong Kong’s answer to the likes of Deliverance, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Hills Have Eyes and Motel Hell – a film that transports the visceral survival horror so popular in the 1970s and 1980s from the backwoods of America to a remote island in East Asia.

At the height of summer, teacher Mr Cheung (John Sham) takes a small group of his students on an excursion to explore a rural island that he assumes is uninhabited. But upon arrival, Cheung and his class discover that they are not alone – the island is, in fact, home to three deranged brothers and their equally deranged mother. And when one of Cheung’s students refuses a marriage proposal from the youngest – and perhaps most disturbed – member of this deeply strange family, both the teacher and the young people in his care soon come to wish that they had stayed at home.

Following in the footsteps of its Western predecessors, The Island plays out a pointed class conflict as it pits its educated urbanites against the violent members of an isolated rural community – but never loses the unique qualities of a Hong Kong horror movie. The Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the film on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere outside of Asia.

Features:

• Limited Edition [2000 copies]
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Ilan Shead
• Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring an interview with Po-Chih Leong and revised introduction notes on The Island by film writer, producer and film festival executive Roger Garcia
• 1080p HD presentation from a brand new 2K restoration
• Original Cantonese mono
• Optional English subtitles, newly translated for this release
• New audio commentary with East Asian cinema expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• New audio commentary with genre cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• Surviving the Shoot – interview with director Po-Chih Leong from 2023 courtesy of Frédéric Ambroisine
• Trailer

This title will soon be available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch the Trailer below:

The post More dangerous than Han’s island? Eureka announces Blu-ray for the 1985 Hong Kong horror rarity ‘The Island’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Dongji Rescue” Theatrical Poster

On August 22, 2025, Well Go USA is giving Dongji Rescue a limited theatrical release. The upcoming period thriller is based on the real-life “Lisbon Maru Sinking Incident” that took place during World War II.

In 1942, a Japanese ship carrying British prisoners of war was torpedoed. Dongji fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 British soldiers and protected and rescued three British individuals during a large-scale search by Japanese forces.

Directed by both Zhenxiang Fei and Guan Hu (Black Dog), Dongji Rescue stars Yilong Zhu (Only the River Flows), Ni Ni (Savage) and Lei Wu (Amidst a Snowstorm of Love).

Watch the Trailer for the film below:

The post Wet, wild and VERY BRUTAL! Well Go USA to release WW2 thriller ‘Dongji Rescue’ in Theaters in August first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Nobody 2” Theatrical Poster

Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto (The Big 4, The Night Comes for Us) – of the “Mo Brothers” directing duo (Killers, Headshot, Macabre) – is prepping Nobody 2, the sequel to 2021’s Nobody, which has Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) reprising his lead role.

Tjahjanto directs from a script by Derek Kolstad (John Wick, Nobody), Aaron Rabin (Jack Ryan), Odenkirk, and Umair Aleem (Kate). Kelly McCormick and David Leitch return to produce through 87North’s first look deal with Universal (via Deadline).

In the original film, a docile family man (Odenkirk) named Hutch Mansell, slowly reveals his true character after his house gets burgled by two petty thieves, which, coincidentally, leads him into a bloody war with a Russian crime boss.

In the sequel, Mansell is pulled back into his violent past after thwarting a home invasion, setting off a chain of events that unravels secrets about his wife Becca’s past and his own

Nobody 2 also stars Connie Nielsen (Nobody), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future), Sharon Stone (Casino), RZA (The Man with the Iron Fists), John Ortiz (American Gangster), Colin Hanks (Dexter), Michael Ironside (Scanners), Daniel Bernhardt (Extraction 2) and Colin Salmon (Punisher: War Zone).

Look out for Nobody 2 on August 15, 2025 from Universal Pictures.  Watch the Final Trailer below:

The post Bob Odenkirk breaks the bad in the Final Trailer for ‘Nobody 2’ from acclaimed Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Invincible Swordsman” Theatrical Poster

Hong Kong martial arts legend Sammo Hung (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In) is part of an all-star ensemble cast in Luo Yiwei’s Invincible Swordsman, a remake of Ching Siu-tung’s 1992 wuxia classic, The Swordsman II.

Written by Wong Jing and based on the novel by Louis Cha, Invincible Swordsman stars Kitty Zhang Yuqi (The Mermaid) and Tim Huang Xiyan (The Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms).

In the film, Linghu Chong (Huang) seeks to leave martial arts behind but gets dragged into its conflicts. Meeting demon cult leader Dongfang Bubai (Zhang) leads him on an unexpected spiritual journey.

Supporting cast includes Terence Yin (Chasing the Dragon), Xuan Lu (The Untamed), Yun Qianqian (Big Brother) and Zhang Lu (The Blizzard).

Invincible Swordsman is debuting on Digital and Physical on August 19 from your friends at Well Go USA. Watch the New U.S. Trailer below:

The post Play it again, Sammo! New U.S. Trailer for ‘Invincible Swordsman’ featuring Hong Kong legend Sammo Hung first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Baby Assassins: Nice Days | Blu-ray (Well Go USA)

On August 25, 2025, Well Go USA is releasing the Blu-ray for Baby Assassins: Nice Days (aka Baby Assassins 3), writer/director Yugo Sakamoto’s third installment of his popular action-comedy franchise following 2021’s Baby Assassins and 2023’s Baby Assassins 2.

Baby Assassins: Nice Days sees the return of the two teenage slacker assassins played by Akari Takaishi (My Happy Marriage, Single8) and Saori Izawa (A Janitor, Re:Born), who take on the bloodthirsty and zealous Sosuke Ikematsu (Mozu: The Movie).

As expected Sakamoto has once more brought onboard Japan’s busiest action director to choreograph the fights in the form of Kensuke Sonomura (Hydra).

Teen assassins and BFFs, Chisato and Mahiro head to a coastal resort for a well-deserved vacation when The Agency calls with an assignment take out an embezzler. Unfortunately, the gig has been double-booked, and the duo cross paths with an unpredictably vicious freelancer out to add to his personal kill count. What should have been a straightforward mission becomes a test of their friendship and killing skills, as the ruthless killer targets the two young roomies.

Watch the Trailer below:

The post Hit me baby one more time! Watch the New U.S. Trailer for Yugo Sakamoto’s ‘Baby Assassins: Nice Days’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Relentless Fury” Theatrical Poster

iQIYI’s hardest working martial arts star, Andy On (Blind War), teams up with Vanness Wu (Ip Man 4: The Finale) in Relentless Fury, an upcoming action thriller directed by Jimmy Hung (Road Less Traveled).

Not sure what’s going on plot-wise, but the film’s sharply edited Trailer showcases action laced with visuals reminiscent of Gen X Cops, but not without the obvious influence of today’s John Wick franchise.

Given that the director of Relentless Fury is the son of Hong Kong cinema legend, Sammo Hung (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In), there’s definitely going to be some high expectations set. Like father, like son? We’ll see.

Relentless Fury is set to premiere July 11th on Chinese streaming service iQIYI (via MAAC). Watch the Trailer below:

The post Like father, like son? Sammo’s son creates Hong Kong action in the Trailer for ‘Relentless Fury’ starring Andy On first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Bloodstorm” Teaser Poster

Rising martial arts star and YouTuber, David Kurzhal (The Last Kumite) – who is perhaps better known as Viking Samurai – gets his very first starring role in Bloodstorm, the latest low-budget actioner from cult director Rene Perez (Once Upon a Time in Deadwood).

During a transfer to a remote prison island, a determined young cop and a deadly inmate are caught in the middle of a violent prison break. Forced to rely on each other, they must fight through chaos to survive.

The film also stars Krista Hedins (Elite Target), Michael Nesto (The Last Kumite), Michael Paré (Streets of Fire), Richard Tyson (Black Hawk Down) and Silvio Simac (DOA: Dead or Alive).

Bloodstorm will be on DVD on July 22, 2025, and is currently available via VOD. Don’t miss the film’s Trailer below:

The post ‘Die Hard’ on a prison island? Trailer for ‘Bloodstorm’ starring rising martial arts star David ‘Viking Samurai’ Kurzhal first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Trouble Man” Theatrical Poster

Following 2023’s Outlaw Johnny Black, martial arts star Michael Jai White (Triple Threat, Accident Man) is back in the director’s chair for Samuel Goldwyn Films’ Trouble Man, an upcoming actioner he’s also headlining.

In the film, Jaxen (White), a former cop turned Atlanta PI, is hired to find missing R&B star Jahari. His investigation uncovers her disappearance is connected to a larger conspiracy, forcing him to question those around him and his own past.

Trouble Man also stars Orlando Jones (Drumline), Method Man (Belly) and Mike Epps (Next Friday).

According to Film Combat Syndicate, the film’s action direction is by Joey Min, with fight choreography by Stephanie Pham and Angela Jordan.

Trouble Man hits U.S. theaters on August 15, 2025. Watch the New Trailer below:

The post Always bet on WHITE! Michael Jai White and Method Man cause trouble in the Trailer for ‘Trouble Man’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Ziam” Netflix Poster

Thai Kwon DEAD! In the tradition of 1981’s Kung Fu Zombie, 2014’s Zombie Fight Club and 2022’s Day Zero comes Ziam, a 2025 Thai-produced action thriller from director Kulp Kaljareuk (The Up Rank).

Ziam stars Mark Prin Suparat (My Husband in Law), Nychaa Nuttanicha (Ghost Lab) and Vayla Wanvayla.

In a world gripped by food shortages, a tenacious Muay-Thai boxer must use skill, speed and grit to save his wife to battle a zombie outbreak inside a hospital to save his lover from the jaws of death.

Ziam will be streaming July 9, 2025 on Netflix. Watch the Trailer below:

The post Muay Thai vs zombies! Trailer for Kulp Kaljareuk’s horror actioner ‘Ziam’ arriving on Netflix next month first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Kung Fu in Rome” Theatrical Poster

Looks like Bruce isn’t the only dragon kicking it in Rome! Get ready for Kung Fu in Rome (aka Forbidden City), an upcoming martial arts actioner starring Yaxi Liu, who is perhaps best known as Liu Yifei’s stunt double in Disney’s Mulan.

Directed by Gabriele Mainetti (They Call Me Jeeg), this Italian production also stars Enrico Borello (Supersex), Marco Giallini (Rocco), and Sabrina Ferilli (The Great Beauty), as well as Chunyu Shanshan (King of Fighters), via Film Combat Syndicate.

In the film, the son of an indebted restaurant owner joins a foreign girl. He’s looking for his father, she’s in search of her sister. Together, they’ll have to fight side by side against the most ruthless members of the Roman criminal underworld.

Kung Fu in Rome was originally released in Italy on March 13, 2025, and a German release is set on August 21, 2025. We’re hoping a U.S. release will follow. Until then, don’t miss the film’s latest Trailer:

The post Way of the Dragoness! Watch the New Trailer for ‘Kung Fu in Rome’ (aka ‘Forbidden City’) starring Yaxi Liu first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Now shipping from Goodie Emporium is the Blu-ray (Region A/B) for Exact Revenge, a Shaw Brothers collection that includes both 1971’s The Eunuch and 1972’s The Deadly Knives.

Revenge is and has always been one of the most popular and prolific themes in Hong Kong cinema, from classic wuxia epics to kung fu movies and heroic bloodshed films. During the 1970s, Shaw Brothers Studio was the largest production company operating in Hong Kong and the king of the vengeance tale. Presented here are two of the studio’s most interesting and underrated takes on the revenge story: The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives (or Fists of Vengeance).

A wuxia pian written by the legendary Lo Wei (Fist of Fury) and directed by Teddy Yip (The Black Tavern), The Eunuch begins as the eponymous eunuch Gui De-hai (Pai Ying, The Valiant Ones) survives an attempt on his life ordered by the Emperor (Lo Wei himself). After killing the Emperor and his family in cold blood, Gui notices that the Prince is missing – and sets out to complete his revenge mission. Then, Ching Li (Four Riders) and Ling Yun (Killer Clans) star in the kung fu film The Deadly Knives as young lovers Guan Yue-hua and Yan Zi-fei, whose relationship is tested when Yan’s family comes under threat by Japanese thugs led by Ogawa (Ching Miao, The Shadow Boxer). He becomes determined to avenge their honour – even if that means taking on Guan’s corrupt father.

The Eunuch and The Deadly Knives were made just as the wuxia film was giving way to the kung fu movie in the wake of Bruce Lee’s international success, and provide a fascinating insight into how the theme of revenge was retooled as one genre superseded another. Eureka Classics presents both films on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.

Features:

• Limited Edition [2000 copies]
• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring new artwork by Grégory Sacré (Gokaiju)
• Limited edition collector’s booklet featuring new writing on both films in this set by writer and film critic James Oliver
• 1080p HD presentations of both films
• Original Mandarin audio tracks
• Optional English dub for The Deadly Knives
• Optional English subtitles, newly revised for this release
• New audio commentary on The Eunuch by action cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• New audio commentary on The Deadly Knives by Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)

This title is now available at The Goodie Emporium, a U.S.-based online store that currently has many Import Shaw Brothers/Golden Harvest/martial arts DVD/Blu-ray movies in-stock – with New titles being added regularly!

Watch the Trailer below:

The post Eureka takes revenge! Shaw Brothers classics ‘The Eunuch’ and ‘The Deadly Knives’ now available first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Hi-YAH!, Well Go USA’s very own Asian/martial arts streaming channel has just announced their New Releases for the month of June.

If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

Read on for the full list of New and Exclusive titles:

6/6/25 | Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms

Wu Ershan’s Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms stars Kris Phillips (Painted Skin 2: The Resurrection), Li Xuejian (The Wandering Earth II), Huang Bo (Journey to the West), Yu Shi (Birth of the Dragon), Chen Muchi (Guardians of the Lands), Kuo Chen (Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon) and Yuan Quan (Call of Heroes).

After conspiring with a conniving fox demon to kill the emperor and seize power, King Zhou reigns as a tyrant so brutal that he incurs the wrath of Heaven. In a final attempt to save the mortal world from desperate peril, the gods decide to intervene and invest in an unlikely champion brave enough to challenge the evil king—even if it may cost him everything. | Read our review.

6/6/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 16)

Looking for more action that revolves around the infamous Kowloon Walled City? Before 2024’s Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, there was the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls.

Chor Au-Kuen (Ruco Chan) bears the grief of the loss of his family and returns to the walled city in hopes of finding his long lost sister, only to find out that the place he grew up in has become a lawless no man’s land…

A Fist Within Four Walls also stars Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

6/13/25 | Masked Avengers 

If you’ve ever watched a Shaw Brothers kung-fu film and found yourself thinking: “This flick is good and all, but what it REALLY needs is a bunch of blood-drinking, Satan-worshiping, mask-wearing villains and a whole lot more violence,” then Chang Cheh’s Masked Avengers is the movie for you.

Masked Avengers concerns a cult of masked killers who work as mercenaries, though the film never once addresses who exactly hires and pays them. None of them know each other behind their masks, which also raises more logistical questions: if no one knows who is who, then how in the world did the cult get started in the first place? Regardless, we discover that these guys are Satanic in everything but name: they thrive on debauchery, drink the blood of their victims, worship and frolic in pagan rituals, and rape and murder as they please. | Read our review.

6/13/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 17)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

6/20/25 | The Wild Blade of Strangers (Hi-YAH! Original)

During the chaotic period towards the end of the Tang Dynasty, the Prince of Liang usurped power and secretly eliminated the heir to the throne.

This 2024 epic actioner is directed by Wei Li (Chu E Fei Che Dang) and stars Max Zhang Jin (The Brink), Le Geng (Beijing Rocks),  Luxia Jiang (Operation Red Sea) and Hua Liu (Better Days).

6/20/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 18)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

6/27/25 | Ten Tigers from Kwangtung

In this 1980 kung fu classic from Cheng Cheh (Shaolin Martial Arts), assassins stalk a group of martial-arts students whose fathers risked their lives to save a revolutionary years before.

Ten Tigers from Kwangtung features an all-star cast that includes Ti Lung (Shatter), Alexander Fu Sheng (Deadly Breaking Sword), Philip Kwok (Final Run), Wei Pai (Young Master), Dick Wei (Horrible High Heels), Sun Chien (Kid with the Golden Arm), Lu Feng (Death Ring), Chiang Sheng (Exciting Dragon), Lo Meng (Five Deadly Venoms) and Chin Siu-ho (The Beheaded 1000).

6/27/25 | A Fist Within Four Walls (Season 1/Episode 19)

The continuing saga of the 2016 TVB series, A Fist Within Four Walls that stars Ruco Chan (The Righteous Fists), Nancy Wu (Men on the Dragon), Benjamin Yuen (Infernal Affairs), Yuen Qiu (Kung Fu Hustle) and Philip Ng (Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In).

If you want to give Hi-YAH! a go, visitors of this site can use the promo code “CITYONFIRE” for a FREE 30 Day trial!

The post Gods, Masked Avengers, Max Zhang and Kwangtung Tigers! Here’s what’s streaming on Hi-YAH for the month of June first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Rush Hour” Japanese Theatrical Poster

For the last 10+ years, both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker (Rush Hour 1-3) have kept the possibility of a Rush Hour 4 in the air. But now, the 4th installment of the popular action comedy is still doable, at least according to Jackie himself.

Speaking with ScreenRant while promoting Karate Kid: Legends, Chan had this to say: “I don’t know. Ask the director, ask the studio, ask the writer,” Chan relayed. “Hurry up! Otherwise, Chris Tucker and me [will be] 100 years old. We’ll be old men doing Rush Hour.“

He continued to elaborate that he would sign on for Rush Hour 4 adding, “Yes! And I want to do [another] Shanghai Knights, Shanghai Dawn. Shangai Noon, Shanghai Knights, and Shanghai Dawn. The script is still going on. I want to do a Rush Hour 4.”

The highly successful franchise – all directed by Brett Ratner (Red Dragon) – consisted of 1998’s Rush Hour, 2001’s Rush Hour 2 and 2006’s Rush Hour 3.

In 2016 came the Ratner-produced Rush Hour TV series, starring Jon Foo (Tekken) and Justin Hires (21 Jump Street), which was cancelled after one season.

In 2017, Warner, who took over the film’s rights from the defunct New Line Cinema, cut ties with Ratner, due to sexual harassment and misconduct accusations towards the filmmaker by several women, so it’s a safe bet that a different director will be taking over the franchise.

Back in March of 2019, there were also reports (via That Hashtag Show) that STX Studios was developing a female-centric Rush Hour film, which would have had The Meg co-star Bingbing Li (Zhong Kui: Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal) as one of the leads, but we’re assuming plans fizzled due to panned female-centric, rebooted franchise failures, particularly 2016’s Ghostbusters.

We’ll keep you posted on Rush Hour 4 news as we hear more.

The post Warner needs to rush in because Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker are both game for ‘Rush Hour 4’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Black Creek” Theatrical Poster

Cult martial arts action screen icon Cynthia Rothrock (The Blonde Fury, No Retreat No Surrender II, Righting Wrongs) is back with Black Creek, an upcoming western/martial arts action movie, and currently the 3rd most successfully funded action film ‘OF ALL TIME’!

Black Creek is directed by Shannon Lanier, who is perhaps best known for his shorts, Love Between The Sheets and Heidi and Rewind; as well as his cinematography work for films such as Harvey and Under His Control.

Co-starring in Black Creek are Don “The Dragon” Wilson (Death Fighter, Diamond Cartel), Richard Norton (Mr. Nice Guy, Millionaires Express), Keith Cooke (King of the Kickboxers), Benny “The Jet” Urquidez (Wheels on Meals, Dragons Forever), Keith Vitali (Bloodmoon, Wheels on Meals), R. Marcos Taylor (Straight Outta Compton, Baby Driver), Patrick Kilpatrick (Minority Report) and Eliza Kelley (Volkov Origin).

On board for action and fight choreography is martial arts sensation Mike Moeller (One Million K(l)icks, Ultimate Justice, Atomic Eden) and Swiss Power Stunts crew, Gaillard Noel, Schuler Dominic and Iga Justo.

Vantage Media and VMI Worldwide will release Black Creek on Digital on June 17, 2026. Watch the New Trailer below:

The post Cynthia Rothrock is the BEST in the WEST in the New Trailer for the all-star martial arts thriller ‘Black Creek’ first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Diablo” Theatrical Poster

Director Ernesto Díaz Espinoza (Kiltro, Redeemer, The Fist of the Condor) is back with frequent collaborator Marko Zaror (Invincible) and Scott Adkins (Ip Man 4, John Wick: Chapter 4) for Lionsgate’s Diablo.

Kris Chaney (Adkins) released from prison, on a mission to fulfill a promise but finds himself in danger when he kidnaps Elisa. El Corvo (Zaror), a psychopathic killer joins the hunt not for the money but for his own vengeance against Vicente’s family.

Diablo also stars Diana Hoyos (Sniper: Ultimate Kill), Alanna De La Rossa (Llanto Maldito), Maria del Rosario (El Paraiso), Lucho Velasco (Jungle) and Jason Gurvitz (Avenged).

Diablo is in Theaters, On Demand and On Digital on June 13 from Lionsgate. Watch the recent Trailer below:

The post Will Scott 86 the devil? Another Poster for Ernesto Díaz Espinoza’s ‘Diablo’ starring Scott Adkins and Marko Zaror first appeared on cityonfire.com.

A Rambo prequel is brewing from Millennium Media (The Expendables), who has enlisted the services of Jalmari Helander (Big Game), a director best known for his celebrated 2022 Finnish action film, Sisu.

Titled John Rambo, the film – scribed from Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani (Black Adam) – will serve as the origin story of America’s favorite one-man army, set during the Vietnam War (via World of Reel).

The same source adds that Stallone is not currently involved, but the producers are apparently leaving the door open.

The iconic franchise started with 1982’s First Blood and peaked into a worldwide phenomenon with 1985’s Rambo: First Blood Part II. Then came 1988’s Rambo III, 2008’s Rambo (aka Rambo 4) and finally, 2019’s Rambo: Last Blood (aka Rambo 5).

Prior to 2008’s Rambo movie, some of the ideas studios were dancing around was putting Rambo against experimental Universal Soldier-like enemies; then there was the concept that had Rambo out to rescue a kidnapped girl from sex traffickers, an idea that ultimately branched out to not only Rambo: Last Blood, but also the recent Jason Statham actioner, A Working Man (which Stallone co-wrote).

Another studio brainstorm saw Rambo and his estranged brother battle against villains during a storm, while a post-9/11 idea saw Rambo fight terrorists inside the United Nations building. And let’s not forget the a concept that had Rambo up against a villain played by Jackie Chan (via Screen Rant).

In 2013, producer Avi Lerner conspired to turn Rambo into a TV series with Stallone reprising his role as John Rambo for television. Then in 2015, there was word that Fox locked in a deal for Rambo: New Blood, which would explore the complex relationship between Rambo (not played by Stallone) and his son, J.R., an ex-Navy SEAL.

Who knows, maybe some of these ideas can be repurposed for a Godfather Part II-type deal? (where the next film can be a prequel and sequel at the same time).

Shooting for the upcoming John Rambo is said to begin in Thailand this October. For now, we leave you with all the Trailers to this legendary action franchise. Which one is your favorite?

The post Nothing is over!!! Vietnam-set ‘Rambo’ prequel to start shooting this year from ‘Sisu’ director Jalmari Helander? first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Gladiator Underground” Teaser Poster

At this year’s Cannes, director Chaya Supannarat (Bangkok Dog) will be screening her sophomore martial arts actioner, Gladiator Underground.

The Bleiberg/Dimbort-backed film reunites Supannarat with Bangkok Dog star D.Y. Sao (Shadow Master). Also headlining are Andy Le (The Paper Tiger) and Brian Le (American Born Chinese).

All three of these martial arts talents are primarily known for their stunt work in films such as 2015’s Unlucky Stars, 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and 2022’s Everything Everywhere All at Once – so it’ll be interesting to see what they’ll deliver to their latest, headlining feature.

Gladiator Underground involves Max and Wu, two long time rivals, who are competing in the world’s most dangerous underground fighting tournament, where powerful crimelords can gamble and influence who they fight, the terrain they fight on, and what weapons will be used. In this high-stakes bloodsport, where one wrong move can mean certain death, they must decide whether to play by the rules or to cast their honor aside and team up against the dark syndicate running the tournament and bring the entire system down.

A Trailer and official release date are still pending. Until then, here’s a look at what these guys can do in the short, Shaolin Avengers. And right below is the Trailer for Chaya Supannarat’s Bangkok Dog:

The post Move over, ‘Bloodsport’! Make room for ‘Gladiator Underground’ starring D.Y. Sao, Andy Le and Brian Le first appeared on cityonfire.com.

Ma Dong-seok, aka Don Lee (Derailed, Holy Night: Demon Hunters), is currently shooting Plus M Entertainment’s Pig Village, an upcoming English-language film from Lee Sang-yong, who directed Lee in 2022’s The Roundup and 2023’s The Roundup: No Way Out.

Set against the backdrop of the US-Mexico border, Pig Village stars Lee as a bare-knuckle boxer who is caught in a web of corruption after botching a fixed fight in San Diego (via Screen Daily). Co-stars include Michael Rooker (The Replacement Killers), Colin Woodell (Netflix series Pulse), Lisette Olivera (National Treasure: Edge of History), Ali Ahn (Agatha All Along), Abraham Popoola (Atlas) and Alex Meraz (Bright).

As we learn more, we’ll keep you updated! Until then, here’s a look at the damage Don Lee and Lee Sang-yong can do together:

The post Don Lee goes hog wild with Michael Rooker in ‘Pig Village’ from ‘The Roundup’ director Lee Sang-yong first appeared on cityonfire.com.

You’ve heard of Bruceploitation, but have you heard of Bronsploitation? If not, you’re not alone, but an upcoming documentary about three men who each had a showbiz career that traded on his resemblance to tough-guy actor Charles Bronson: Bobby Kim, Robert Bronzi and Fenelón Guajardo Lopez. Watch an exclusive preview clip at the end. 

Read the official release below:

Coming from writer/director Mike Malloy (EUROCRIME!), BRONSPLOITATION is the type of cinema documentary that’d typically be a lightweight pop-culture romp. But Malloy seeks also to tell the human stories of three men—one Chilean, one Korean and one Hungarian—who each had a showbiz career that traded on his resemblance to American tough-guy actor Charles Bronson (DEATH WISH, THE DIRTY DOZEN).

Says Mike, “When ‘the Hungarian Bronson’ came on the scene about ten years ago, a lot of Bronson fans went nuts—both favorably and negatively—not realizing that there had been a ‘Chilean Bronson’ and a ‘Korean Bronson’ who got their starts in the 1970s. The fans thought this was a totally novel one-off, ut it was really just the latest actor in a phenomenon, making it more like the Brucesploitation movement that arose after Bruce Lee’s death. And I’ve had ‘Bronsploitation’ as an idea in the back of my mind ever since.”

Charles Bronson may be a jumping off point, but ultimately it’s not Bronson’s story. The three true subjects of the doc are “Korean Bronson” Bobby Kim, “Chilean Bronson” Fenelón Guajardo and “Hungarian Bronson” Robert Bronzi.

When Mike realized he had willing colleagues in Greater Denver (where Bobby Kim now resides), in Chile (where the late Fenelon Guajardo lived) and in Los Angeles (where regular collaborators to Robert Bronzi operate), he felt confident enough to lurch into the project, beginning filmed interviews in 2023.

Bobby Kim in 1984’s “Manchurian Avenger”

The doc draws on more than 15 new interviews spanning the globe, clips from all three actors’ films, behind-the-scenes footage and hundreds of rare images (many previously unpublished).

“When I mention the subject of the documentary to people,” says Mike, “One common response is, ‘Will you be covering Bronson Lee?’ in reference to the Japanese actor who occasionally bore that billing. But we’re only mentioning Bronson Lee in passing—same for any others who had only tenuous marketing connections to Charles Bronson.”

Mike continues: “By sticking primarily to three actors who had longtime Bronson associations, we can strike a balance between a fun pop-culture doc and a personal look at several men whose careers existed in a shadow.”

That said, the doc will have a catch-all sequence that runs the gamut: the unauthorized appearances of Bronson’s likeness in international comic books, the DEATH WISH parody films of the ‘70s, the meet-and-greet actors who impersonated Charles Bronson for events, and the stand-up comedians who successfully mastered Bronson impressions. It even covers Lance Henriksen’s portrayal of Charlie in a sensitive TV movie!

And the pop-cultural craziness can’t help but to emerge, even within serious portraits. Robert Bronzi’s films 12 TO MIDNIGHT and DEATH KISS, for instance, flagrantly echo the titles of Bronson vehicles 10 TO MIDNIGHT and DEATH WISH. Meanwhile, Bobby Kim was sometimes asked to bear such billings as “Bobby Bonson” or “Bone-Crusher Bronson.” And both Kim and Bronzi shared the screen with actual Bronson co-stars. (Fenelón Guajardo didn’t have as many colorful interactions with Bronson’s legacy, as his career was limited by Chile’s Pinochet dictatorship.)

Robert Bronzi in “Death Kiss”

About the director: Mike Malloy has made a name for himself by focusing his professional efforts on tough-guy cinema. He has written (and contributed to) books, like the biography of Spaghetti Western star Lee Van Cleef. He’s been assigned to write such screenplays as the official, unproduced DJANGO sequel. And for the past decade, he’s been focused on producing and/or appearing in Blu-Ray extras for films starring Bronson, Van Cleef, Clint Eastwood, Chuck Norris, etc, for such companies as StudioCanal and MGM. His feature-length documentary, EUROCRIME!, sold around the world and received praise from such outlets as VARIETY, EMPIRE, MAXIM and CINEASTE.

The BRONSPLOITATION crew includes: Executive producer John Joseph Dunn, cinematographer Michael A. Martinez (responsible for Malloy’s on-camera segments in the doc), Los Angeles field producer Eric Zaldivar, Chilean field producer Ema María Arredondo Martínez, Denver field producer John Grace, Italian field producer Francesco Massaccesi and associate producer Richard Bowling.

Watch an Exclusive clip from the documentary below:

For more information about this upcoming documentary, visit: instagram.com/bronsploitation/

The post Do you believe in Bronsploitation? Well, you’re gonna meet ’em! Sneak peek at Mike Malloy’s upcoming documentary first appeared on cityonfire.com.

“Best of the Best 2” Theatrical Poster

Back in 2015, while promoting his “comeback” movie Underdog Kids, Philip Rhee (Furious) revealed that he would be rebooting his successful Best of the Best saga, which started with Best of the Best (1989), Best of the Best 2 (1993), Best of the best 3: No Turning Back (1995) and ended with Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998).

Here’s what Rhee told TAE back in 2015: “We’re going to reboot the whole franchise with a new cast. I have things… I’m going to bring in elements that nobody has ever seen before. I will produce the picture.”

Since then, the hopes of a new Best of the Best chapter has been more or less stagnant. Until now…

Just recently, Philip and his brother, Simon Rhee, had a meeting with Eric Roberts (Maximum Impact) – who co-starred in the first two Best of the Best films. The three were photographed together with a post that read: “We had so much fun sharing old stories and planning Best 5.”

Of course, nothing is official, but that doesn’t mean a Best of the Best V is a viable possibility, given the franchise’s global appeal and brand awareness for profit-hungry producers (especially in the current state of franchise resurgences in the likes of Karate Kid/Cobra Kai, Beverly Hills Cop, etc).

On top of it, the Rhee brothers know how to get a production off the ground, as they did back in the pre-internet days (IMDB ’em). Simon himself is still very much active, primarily for his stunt work, for a wide array of popular films such as 2022’s Carter, 2024’s MaXXXine, and the upcoming Naked Gun reboot.

In recent months, the Rhee brothers have been mingling with names such as Scott Adkins (John Wick: Chapter 4), Cynthia Rothrock (Manhattan Chase), Mike Stone (Tigershark) and Bill Wallace (The Protector), so who knows what conversations are had between these legendary martial arts stars.

We’ll keep you updated on Best of the Best V as we learn more. Until then, we leave you with all the Trailers for this legendary martial arts franchise:

The post Pop it, Tommy, pop it!!! Are Philip and Simon Rhee reuniting with Eric Roberts for a ‘Best of the Best 5’? first appeared on cityonfire.com.